LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF

WITH FARZED SALEHI

If I read this letter in 1987 in Abadeh, Iran, to a young barber named Farzad I would say to myself, this is not your life and you are out of your mind! As I still go to my shop every day from 6:30am to 7:00pm to cut my clients’ hair and shave their faces, I can honestly say I am still loving every minute of it. Even writing this letter to my younger self today it looks like a made-up story!

Dear Farzad,

You will sell your barber shop here in a couple of years, then leave Iran to make your way to Rotterdam, Holland through Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Germany with two different names and passports, where you’ll live and cut hair there for two years.

Then you’ll fly to Vancouver, Canada with another fake passport, this time an Israeli one, and meet the most amazing woman in the world who will become your future wife, on the first night you arrive, not knowing any English or having any money.

You will work hard beside some great barbers for many years before opening your own shop in 2006. Some years after that you will receive invitations to travel the world to teach your craft.... Holland, Sweden, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and many US cities, end up on the cover or featured in barber, motorcycle, business, travel, and fashion magazines from around the world, including GQ Mexico and GQ Germany.

You will be featured in a TV commercial for American Crew, and be a fashion model for an international clothing brand.

Don’t ever take any of this for granted or become full of it.Life is good!

Farzad Salehi @farzadthehappybarber Farzad’s Barber Shop, Vancouver, Canada